College of Fine Arts Alumni of the Year

Joe Aldridge
’79 MA Theatre

Joe Aldridge, ’79 MA Theatre was first employed at UNLV 1974 to 1977. He returned in 1984 and served as technical director until 2005. He has been involved in producing more than 200 shows with the Theatre Department at UNLV. In 2005, he accepted the position of coordinator for the new entertainment engineering and design program. During his tenure at UNLV, he has mentored students in all aspects of theatre production. It is this commitment to safety and technical theatre innovation that separates Aldridge from anyone else in the business of technical theatre. He is the past president of the most prestigious technical theatre membership organization in the world: the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. He serves as the chair of the Nevada Resort Association/IATESE Local 720 Journeyman Training Trust which offers training to Las Vegas area stagehands. In 2014, he earned a second Bachelor of Arts degree from the National Labor College.

Aldridge served as the Artistic Director for Shakespeare under the Stars at the Emily Ann Theatre in Wimberley, Texas. This innovative program affords high school students the chance to learn all aspects of theatre in a summer-stock environment. He assists with safety training and OSHA compliance for the ICAP (IATSE Candidate Advancement Program), a national safety and skills training program. Through all of his work in education, both locally and nationally, he is well known by his students for his warmth and desire to mentor.